FOUR PLACE SWIFT???
From: Geoff Crawford <swift88k@pacbell.net>
Subj: Four Place Swift
Jim, I've been meaning to tell you about this for ages and you probably
know about it already, but the Volpe Swift, 3793K, is a four place airplane.
I saw it at the Nationals, but don't remember if it was in '81 or '86.
He put a vertical bulkhead in just aft of the windows, extended the floor
aft and put in seat belt anchors. He said the 337 didn't say much more
than that. Ah, the good old days. The seats are pads on the floor and
on the bulkhead, held in place with Velcro. At the time he had a couple
of 5-8 year old daughters and it worked OK then, but I'll bet they don't
ride back there any more! -- Geoff

Geoff, Yes, I've seen
N3793K and it is a very nice airplane. I had an almost identical setup
on N80539. (now N28AG) I had it at Kentucky Dam in 1972 and it is still
around. The rear seat is STC'ed. I don't encourage this mod, I feel it
is not well engineered and kind of ruins the whole character of the airplane.
Having butchered up several Swifts in my younger days, I hope I can talk
folks into restoring to factory original! -- Jim

(Editor's note: If you have,
or can ever dig up, the April 1986 issue of AOPA PILOT, there is an article
on Swifts that features N3793K. One of the photos in the article is the
rear seat installation discussed above. It is a clean looking installation
but it is also easy to see from the photo that they are seats suitable
only for children or very small people.)

GC-1A vs GC-1B...
(10399)
Subj: Questions
From: Larry LaForce <LaForce55@aol.com>
Jim.... My question is.... from what I can gather.... this one is... or
started life as a 85hp which will mean it is a Globe GC-1A.... right?
Is there any reason to shy away from these birds if they are mostly mechanically
sound? I assume that the Globe GC-1A and the GC-1B are the same other
than the engines. Thanks ...... Larry

Larry, The earlier s/n's
required quite a few changes, but if properly converted there is nothing
against a GC-1A. The later s/n's (approx. 300 to 409) are identical firewall
aft. -- Jim

FRESH AIR... (10499)
From: Pete King <peetking@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Fuel and air
What is considered to be the best place to pick outside air for cabin
venting ? -- the best type of inlet?

Pete: Many locations
have been tried for venting the cabin. I believe in the original look,
so I use a 2 1/8" hose hooked to a 2 1/16" aluminum tube which picks up
air behind the grill of the cowling. I have seen NASA inlets on the side
skins and holes cut in the leading edge fairings, I'm not convinced these
work too well. Some of these areas are low pressure areas and of course
won't work. N80824 picked up air in front of the windshield, you might
try emailing Paul Barnett and asking him how it worked. -- Jim

THERE GOES THE RESALE
VALUE... (11299)
Subject: Re: Crack in Aluminum Angle on Fuselage
From: Steve Roth <StevenRoth@aol.com>
Today I found a crack in the heavy duty aluminum angle that runs along
the bottom of the window opening (pilot's side). It is what you hang your
arm on when you have the window down and your arm hanging out. It is about
three feet long. Lots of rivets in it. This piece is essentially a 90
degree angle with a bend to conform it to the fuselage. The bend is just
behind the side window, where the fuselage "break" is. The crack is at
the outside radius of the bend and propagates from top to bottom of the
metal at a slight angle. The crack is about half way through the horizontal
element of the 90 degree angle piece. To get the bend in the piece, was
the horizontal element cut, the bend made, then welded? Is it heat treated?
Can it be welded to repair it? Ever seen cracks in one?

Steve, The aluminum
angle is an extrusion and is non-weldable. I believe it is 2024-T4. The
early 2000 s/n airplanes used a bent piece of approx. .125 2024 (it was
24ST in 1946) for this item, they must have ran out of the extrusion at
Temco. I believe a repair doubler could be installed, but that would require
engineering so it may just be easier to replace it, if you can find one.
Are you SURE its cracked? No, I have never seen one of these cracked,
although I remember Ed Gorney changed one for some reason. -- Jim

(Steve Roth also made the following post on the "Yahoo!" Globe Temco Swift
Club site <http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/globetemcoswift>...)

FYI: I found a crack in
the horizontal portion of the 90-deg aluminum angle that fastens to the
fuselage at the top of the skin on either side of the cockpit (1948 Temco
SN 3697). This is the piece of aluminum angle that you hang your arm over
when you have the window down, and ties together the fuselage between
the windscreen post and the rollover structure. Lots of rivets in it.
The crack is at the outside radius of the bend at the rear which
forms this brace around the fuselage "break point". The crack is about
half an inch long and jagged. From top to bottom, it is at a 45 deg angle.
I first noticed it when I saw a crack in the paint. I have stopped
drilled it. Swift Parts has replacements, reportedly made during
last few years. Talking to Joe and Monty, there were two types -- ones
with a sharp angle at the bend on the horizontal edge and others with
a rounded appearance, the rounded ones appearing in my series of Temcos.
Mine is the rounded type. Neither Monty nor Joe has heard of one of these
cracking. No other cracks or indications of stress are apparent n this
area which would have led to this crack. Perhaps when the piece was cold
bent, the conditions for the stress crack were formed in the metal. Just
wanted to pass on this info. Also, has anybody replaced one of these?
Steve - N2397B